Friends,

Can you believe we are already one month into 2024? Time is flying...! Before you know it, tax season will be upon us. So before I dive into this week's update, I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of the services my office offers.

I know how easy it can be to get caught off-guard by tax day! This year don’t wait until the last minute to prepare your taxes to get started now…Click here for some useful filing tips. 

My team is also here to help navigate any troubles you might have dealing with the IRS… this past year we helped 89 people with challenges they had with the IRS. If you are having trouble filing your taxes or getting an answer from the IRS, my office stands ready to do everything we can to help! Click here or call (757) 364-7650.

Better Serving Veterans Battling Cancer

Did you know that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cares for more than 450,000 veterans with cancer and makes an average of 43,000 cancer diagnoses every year? As a veteran and geriatric nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that cancer has wreaked on Americans, particularly in our veteran community. Everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by this horrible disease.

That's why, last week, I introduced my bipartisan Counting Veterans' Cancer Act of 2024.

Across the nation, state cancer registries collect data on cancer type, severity, treatment, and outcomes and submit that data to two national registries: the Center for Disease Control’s National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and National Institute of Health’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER). This data is critical for doctors and researchers.



While individual state laws require new cancer data to be reported to state registries, only some VA medical facilities report data. Additionally, this data is only reported to the VA Central Cancer Registry, which does not feed into the NPCR or SEER registries, resulting in tens of thousands of cases being missed each year.

By requiring the Veterans’ Health Administration to share national cancer data with state cancer registries and requiring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist registries in sharing veteran cancer data with the VA, my legislation ensures maximum cooperation between national and state agencies. I’m hopeful this will provide the doctors and researchers caring for our veterans with the tools they need to more effectively fight cancer. To learn more about the Counting Veterans' Cancer Act of 2024, click on the picture above.

Fighting to Protect Coastal Virginia

This month, I was selected to serve as the Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus!

For far too long, Republicans have taken a backseat in policymaking discussions centered around the envirionment and climate. As Coastal Virginians, we know how to protect our beautiful beaches, wetlands, and coastal waterways without sacrificing good paying jobs. Despite partisan fearmongering and climate alarmism, it is possible to institute commonsense, conservation-focused policies without government overreach or burdensome regulations.

Last year, I was proud to introduce several pieces of legislation that are products of these principles, like my bipartisan Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm (BEACH) Act. This legislation provides support for our land, wetlands, and estuaries while saving Americans money by barring the use of federal tax dollars from developing storm prone, ecologically sensitive areas.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to advocate for policies that will protect our nation's natural beauty while also protecting our economy. I'm proud to bring our Commonwealth's all-of-the-above energy approach to Washington! To learn more about our Conservative Climate Caucus, click on the picture above.

Promoting Quality of Life for Our Servicemembers

I recently went to the Pentagon to meet with Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Meredith Berger. Assistant Secretary Berger is responsible for overseeing the construction and maintenance of our Navy’s military installations across the globe! Throughout our many meetings, I have made it very clear that am extremely concerned over the condition of on-base housing, especially right here in Hampton Roads. 

It was fascinating to learn about the creative work Secretary Berger is doing to improve military quality of life, especially as it relates to base housing and infrastructure. We also talked about how we can better work with an inadequate military budget to address these challenges. I look forward to continuing to work with her to improve the quality of our bases and better care for our military members and their families...!

Supporting the Virginia Aquarium

Recently, members of my team attended the dedication and grand opening of the new South Building of the Virginia Aquarium’s Marine Science Center, which includes their new Veterinary Care Center…! 

Living in Coastal Virginia, we understand how important our marine ecosystems are and it's incredible to have a partner like the Virginia Aquarium in VA02 to not only preserve them but engage the local community in STEM programs that help us all learn how to be good stewards of this beautiful place we call home!

Delivering Good News to VA-02's Future Officers!

As a Member of Congress, I have the distinct honor of recommending qualified high school students to attend four of our nation's military institutions (the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination). It was so exciting to call the VA-02 high school students who I nominated to attend one of our nation's service academies and tell them the good news...!

While the review, interview, and selection process is conducted by an independent committee comprised of representatives from all branches of the military, I'm very grateful that I was able to personally deliver the news of their nomination to these future military leaders!

If you or someone you know is a VA-02 resident interested in learning more information or applying to a service academy, click here.

Weekly Poll

Last week I asked you to participate in the first poll in the Weekly Debrief...! With nearly 400 votes cast, an overwhelming 79% said that border security should be Congress' number one priority!

Thank you for such incredible participation in last week's poll...! Know that I share your concerns over the crisis at the southern border. Unfortunately, the current Administration's repeal of successful border policies and refusal to enforce existing laws have allowed this self-inflicted crisis to spiral out of control. While it won't be fixed overnight, action is needed to address this humanitarian and national security crisis.

And now on to this week's poll question...!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Medal of Honor recipient Captain Edwin A. Anderson of the U.S. Navy (Medal of Honor Action date April 12th, 1914).

Edwin Anderson was born in Wilmington, North Carolina and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1882. After two years of sea duty received his ensign’s stripe on July 1, 1884.

Anderson served as an ensign for 10 years before eventually being promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. On January 28th, 1897, Anderson was assigned to the USS Marblehead, and served on her through the onset of the Spanish American War in 1898. Anderson participated in the Battles of Cienfuegos, Guantanamo Bay, and Fort Cayo del Tore in the war. During the Battle of Cienfuegos he played a key role in an operation to sever Spanish communication cables and assisted in eliminating a high number of Spanish troops.

Anderson continued his service in the Navy after the conclusion of the war, and eventually was a part of the Tampico Affair, participating in the Battle of Veracruz, in 1914. During this battle, the now Capt. Anderson commanded the 2nd Seaman Regiment. While marching across the open space in front of the Veracruz Naval Academy, Anderson and his men unexpectedly came under heavy fire. This caused part of his command to break and fall back as they suffered several casualties. During the conflict, Capt. Anderson exhibited indifference to the heavy fire and showed himself to be fearless and courageous in battle.

Capt. Anderson was eventually promoted to Admiral and designated as the Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet, mainly conducting peacetime operations in Chinese waters. In 1923 when a severe earthquake hit Japan, Anderson immediately put himself and his fleet at the disposal of the Japanese. The Japanese Ambassador to the United States recognized Admiral Anderson's assistance referencing his "unflagging zeal and efficiency" that led to the "prompt and gallant assistance" which brought the situation "well under control in a short time." 

Anderson retired on October 11th, 1923, and returned to the United States. The USS Anderson (DD-411), was named in honor of Rear Admiral Edwin A. Anderson, and was in service from 1939-1946. He passed away at his home on the Masonboro Sound in Wilmington, North Carolina at the age of 74. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

Fast Facts

1. Virginia Beach has one of the largest landfills in the country, “Mount Trashmore.” The city hosts a variety of festivals, celebrations and events at the park… including the city’s official 4th of July Firework Show!
2. The shortest presidency in history belongs to Virginia born William Henry Harrison. After famously not wearing a coat at his inauguration, Harrison caught a cold that ultimately ended his presidency after 31 days!
3. The first Representative for what is now Virginia’s Second District was Congressman Josiah Parker from Isle of Wight County! He served in Congress from 1789 until 1801.
4. Congressman Parker, mentioned above, was the first member of Congress to formally introduce anti-slavery legislation in Congress. He also was one of seven members of Congress to vote against the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. 
5. Old Dominion University in Norfolk did not start out as its own school. The university actually began as the “Norfolk Division” of the College of William and Mary in 1930. ODU eventually became independent in 1962!

I'll be back in Washington this week where I'll continue to fight for Southeast Virginia's priorities.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact my DC Office at (202) 225-4215 or my Virginia Beach District Office at (757) 364-7650 with questions, concerns, or if you require assistance with a federal agency. And don't forget - if you’d like to stay up to date with what I’m working on, check out my website and follow my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages (linked below) to stay up to date!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District